Everybody hold on to your hats – the only firestorm was on social media.
Late night tweets about Teck Trail burning to the ground and several buildings being flooded, have been greatly exaggerated, according to the company’s spokesperson Catherine Adair.
“On the evening Wednesday, June 13, Trail Operations experienced an unplanned power outage in the lead smelter,” Adair told the Times Thursday morning.
“The power was restored at approximately 1 a.m., and the plants are returning to normal operations.”
She says there was no risk to public safety and community air monitors indicated that sulphur dioxide (SO2) remained below permit and within normal variability.
“There were audible alarms as crews responded to the incident,” Adair explained. “There was no fire as was rumoured on social media.”
As part of the power outage, the plant’s regular pumping system was not operating.
“So following our protocols,” Adair added. “All process water was contained on-site using designed containment, vactor trucks and portable pumps.”
A full investigation into the incident is currently underway.
